
Daniela Jaramillo Dent, a Senior Research and Teaching Associate at the University of Zurich, brings a unique perspective to the academic world. She has accumulated over six years of experience in research and teaching, receiving awards, keynote invitations, and recently earning a prestigious role as a Board Student and Early Career Representative for the International Communication Association (ICA).
Daniela’s story is deeply rooted in resilience and adaptability, having lived in Ecuador, the U.S., Spain, and now Switzerland with her husband and two daughters.
Her journey underscores the potential for new beginnings at any stage of life. For Daniela, it’s never too late to start over, and her story is an inspiring testament to that belief.
From Ecuador to the World: A Life of Movement
Daniela’s story begins in Quito, Ecuador, where she spent the first two decades of her life. Her family faced financial difficulties that made it impossible for them to support Daniela and her siblings through college. At 20, she moved to the United States.
“Going from a comfortable home to being undocumented in a new country was a big shift,” Daniela recalls. “But I was fortunate—I always had a place to live and a job.”
During those years, she took college classes but didn’t know if she would be able to graduate due to her undocumented status. Eventually, a scholarship allowed her to complete her bachelor’s degree in communication. She met her husband during this time, and together they opened a restaurant. The business flourished for a while but ultimately closed, a difficult chapter that left them with debt and uncertainty. Yet, this experience fueled Daniela’s drive to explore new opportunities.
Over the next few years, she moved between Ecuador, California, and Spain, continuously seeking fresh starts. Her journey led her into academia, where she discovered a passion for research that combined her interests in teaching and communication.
Exploring the Stories of Migration
In Spain, Daniela began to study the narratives of immigrants on social media, focusing on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Her research aimed to understand how immigrants tell their stories online and how these stories shape public perception.
“I focused on Latin American immigrants like myself,” she explains. “It was a new field at the time, especially exploring visual social media. I wanted to see how immigrants were sharing their stories.”

Daniela emphasizes the complexities of being both a researcher and an insider to the communities she studies. “Managing bias is crucial because you come in with expectations, and it’s important to minimize it,” she says. “But it’s also deeply personal. During my research in Spain, I found myself undocumented again. It’s a reminder that until you have citizenship, you are vulnerable.”
As Daniela immersed herself in the experiences of immigrant influencers and activists, she found the work emotionally taxing. “Migration isn’t just about finding a job and a home—it’s about achieving a sense of security that often comes only with a passport,” she reflects.
For her, the hardest part was realizing how difficult life could be for others. “I was always more privileged than many of the migrants I met. But it’s painful to see the struggles others face up close.”
The Rise of Immigrant Voices in the Digital Age
In 2018, when Daniela began her research, few immigrants openly shared their stories online. But as social media evolved, so did the presence of migrant voices. “Now, we see immigrant influencers with millions of followers, shaping conversations around migration and even impacting legislation,” she notes.
This visibility comes with challenges, though. “The internet can be empowering, but it’s also a place where women and migrants face significant harassment. Female influencers often deal with unwanted messages, while migrants encounter prejudice both online and offline,” Daniela says. “And while these voices are becoming more visible, they are also navigating a space where brands and commercial interests dictate what is acceptable.”
For Daniela, the next phase of her research is focused on what happens after migrants gain stability. “There’s a lot of focus on refugees and the undocumented, which is crucial. But I think we need to look at what happens after they find stability—how their lives change, and what challenges remain.”
Balancing Identity and Legacy
Beyond her academic pursuits, Daniela is also a mother of two daughters. Her life as a global citizen has shaped the way she raises her children.

“It’s important to me that my daughters understand where they come from and don’t reject their heritage,” she says. “In many migrant communities, there’s a tendency to distance oneself from the past due to the pain of migration. But I want my daughters to be proud of their roots.”
She shares the struggle of maintaining cultural ties, especially with her younger daughter, who hasn’t yet visited Ecuador. “COVID kept us from traveling, and that’s one of the pains of migration—your closest family might never fully know parts of your story. But I try to keep our heritage alive for them.”
What Comes Next?
Looking forward, Daniela is interested in exploring how marginalized voices navigate newfound influence. “The big question is what people do with their privilege once they gain visibility. As researchers, we need to confront the complexities, even when they don’t fit neatly into our expectations.”
She recalls an encounter with an influencer who was a Mexican immigrant and a Trump supporter. “It was shocking because we tend to think of marginalized groups as having similar goals. But when these communities find their voices, those voices are not always aligned. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s reality.”

For Daniela, this discomfort is a necessary part of understanding the broader picture. She believes that research should not shy away from these complexities. “We need to study what happens when people break out of their marginalized status and gain a platform. What do they choose to say? How do they use their influence? That’s where my curiosity is taking me.”
A Story of Resilience and Hope
Daniela’s story highlights the resilience it takes to navigate the uncertainties of migration and the transformative power of sharing immigrant stories.
“It’s not always an easy journey, but it’s one I’m glad to be on,” Daniela says. “I hope that by sharing my story and the stories of others, I can offer a different perspective on what it means to be an immigrant today.”
Take a look at Daniela’s research: https://www.danielajaramillodent.com/
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